 Announcement of India–Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor in New Delhi | |
 India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor founder states and location map | |
| Abbreviation | IMEC |
|---|---|
| Formation | 9 September 2023; 2 years ago (2023-09-09) |
| Founder | |
| Purpose | Promote economic development and inter-regional connectivity |
| Location | |
TheIndia–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (commonly abbreviated asIMEC; sometimes also referred to asIMEEC)[a] is a plannedeconomic corridor that aims to bolster economic development by fostering connectivity andeconomic integration betweenAsia, thePersian Gulf andEurope.[3][4] The corridor is a proposed route fromIndia to Europe through theUnited Arab Emirates,Saudi Arabia,Israel, andGreece.[5]
The route draws on what is now described as the ancientGolden Road.[6]
The project was launched to bolster transportation and communication links between Europe and Asia through rail and shipping networks and is seen as a counter to China'sBelt and Road Initiative. The memorandum of understanding document has only mapped out the potential geography of a corridor and will compete against the current trade route going through theSuez Canal.[7]
The project had been delayed due to the ongoingGaza war.[8][9] The route is currently being used to bypass theHouthi blockade[10] and is widely seen as a way to future proof the India-Europe-US supply chain avoiding the Suez canal.[11] In June 2024, theIndo-Mediterranean Initiative (IMI) was started, aiming to track the progress of IMEC.[12]
IMEC got a new lease and enthusiasm has returned to the project during Indian Prime MinisterNarendra Modi's first visit to the White House after the inauguration of PresidentDonald Trump. "We agreed to work together to help build one of the greatest trade routes in all of history. It will run from India to Israel to Italy and onward to the US, connecting our partners, roads, railways and undersea cables, many many undersea cables." said the US President.[13]
During European Commission PresidentVon der Leyen's visit to India on Feb 27–28 2025, both leaders agreed on the importance of IMEC, the excerpt of the joint statement read: "Undertake concrete steps for the realization of the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC) announced during the G20 Leaders' Summit in New Delhi"[14]
There has been healthy competition between European countries for IMEC's European terminal with France (Marseilles[15]), Greece (Piraeus/Thessaloniki[16]) and Italy (Trieste[17]) being candidates. The 2025 Trieste Summit has been announced to promote Trieste as a "strategic gateway port" for IMEC.[18]
TRENDS Research notes that the project has been offset by several challenges such as the geopolitics of the Middle East and theongoing negotiation between New Delhi and Washington on tariffs, but has seen progress through local initiatives such asComprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) between India and the United Arab Emirates.[19]
The signing of a long awaited EU-India trade deal in January 2026 is expected to give IMEC extra momentum.[20]
On 9 September 2023, theMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed during the2023 G20 New Delhi summit by the governments of India,United States, United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia,France,Germany,Italy and theEuropean Union.[21][22][23]
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IMEC is viewed positively by participating countries, with expectations to foster economic development, enhance connectivity, and potentially rebalance trade and economic relations between the EU and China.[24] Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, for instance, view IMEC not as a challenge to China but as an opportunity to diversify their economies and strengthen their positions as inter-regional connectivity hubs. This aligns with their broader economic visions and the desire to maximize their geopolitical influence across Asia and Europe.[25][26] However, according to an analysis from theInstitute for National Security Studies the countries also have different views on the project. The UAE sees is as a practical concept that can be readily integrated into its existing infrastructure, being a leading transport and logistics hub, while Saudi Arabia sees it as an strategic asset and future project.[27]
Chinese analysts were critical of the announcement, mentioning its "organizational fragility and lack of developing country focus, alluding to the BRI’s clear first-mover advantage, IMEC’s overreliance on maritime transport and lack of overland connectivity, and its exclusion of Iran and Turkiye."[28] In September 2023, Turkish presidentRecep Tayyip Erdogan criticised the project for bypassingTurkey, and has vowed for an alternative route, the "Iraq–Europe Development Road Project", which is envisaged to connect the Persian Gulf with Europe through a railway and highway via ports in the United Arab Emirates,Qatar, andIraq, including the under-constructionGrand Faw Port.[29]
In September 2024, Israel'sPrime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu called the corridor a "blessing" for the Middle East, and referred toIran along with its allies as a "curse" in his address to the 79th session of theUnited Nations General Assembly.[30][31] In 2025, Italy appointed Ambassador Francesco Maria Talò as Italy’s Special Envoy for the India–Middle East–Europe Economic Corridor.[32]
The IMEC aims to bolster economic development by fostering connectivity and economic integration between Asia, the Arabian Gulf, and Europe.
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